BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 805, 21 January 1903, Page 3

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Tho fortnightly meeting of the Council was held last night, there boing present : —Tho Mayor (Mr Townloy), and Ore HardiDg, Hepburn, Jones, Bright, Kennedy, Whinray, Mason, Lysnar, and Miller, THE BRIDGE. Mr John Warren, Clerk of tho Cook County Council, wrotel have the honor to acknowledge recoipt of your lettor of tho 24th ult. in reference to tho supervision of tho repairs of the Turanganui Bridge, lam directed to stato that tho County Engineer being fully employed at present cannot give tho necessary tirno to ensure a close supervision of all tho dotails, but will give such goneral supervision as ho can. If your Council consider that sufficient tho Council gladly permits the Engineer to supervise the work, but if you consider a closer supervision is necessary, then it would bo better to appoint a resident Clork of Works to carry out tho suggestions already made by tho County and Harbor Engineers. Cr Harding said they had a really good man doing the work, and with Mr Fraser’s supervision it was satisfactory. Other Councillors took a like view, and it was doomed satisfactory to havo Mr Fraser’s supervision. THE CITY BAND. Mr J. Chrisp, hon. secretary of tho Citizens’ Committeo, wrote :—“ I am directed by tho Citizons Committoo to application to tho Borough Council ’for a subsidy in aid of tho City Band Contest Fund, to enable them to compote at the contost to be held in Masterton on tho 2nd February. The object of entering is to socuro efficiency, also to have, if possible, tho contest of 1904 hold in Gisborne. The latter objoct, if attained, will bo tho moans of bringing a largo number of visitors to tho town. If you could grant this petition wo would bo over grateful.” Tho question as to tho powors of the i Council came up. Crs Jones and Lysnar considered that they might give for a band coming, but not for ono going. Cr Bright said their bank book would show they could not afford to givo any- i thing—they wore all giving privately. i Cr Harding: That’s the trouble. If all j gave it would bo all right. i Cr Whinray said if they had tho power ■ ho would move that TSO bo given. He spoke warmly in support of the laudable efforts of tho band, and the way they had ] given their services. It would be a most equitable way of giving the amount. Cr Jones said ho would bo in favor of j giving something, but ho did not seo how j thoy could give .£SO when their streets were so crying out for funds. i Cr HardiDg suggested that £3O bo given. - i Cr Whinray put the amount at £2 5. i Cr Bright: Our overdraft stands at | ,£3300. Bow can wo give under those ] circumstances ? i

Thorn was no seconder to Cr Whinray’s motioo.

Cr Blight moved that the band be informod'thoy regretted they had not tho funds to spare. Cr Lysnar: And that we have not the powor. Cr Whinray considered they had. Cr Jones: I am afraid that wo have not. The only way he could see was for it to come from tho honorarium voted to the Mayor. Or Harding was in sympathy with tho motion, but they could not go that far in the state of tho Council’s fund. He moved that £2O bo voted. He spoke highly of tho Band’s services, and said if they could make such a grant they should do so. It was the fairest way of getting nil tho ratepayers to contribute. There were some who always gave to anything, while others would not give to anything, and this was the fairest way of doing it. Cr Whinray seconded Cr Harding’s motion. Cr Lysnar : Has the Council ever given anything to tho band ? Tho Mayor: No, I think this is the first time they have applied. Cr Harding said they could, ho believed, get the whole thing vested in the Council. Cr Lysnar said that as they had never had anything before it would be well if thoy could do something—the band was a valuable asset. Cr Whinray again spoke warmly in supported the band, saying that the probability of having the next contest in Gisborne should bo considered. Where a thing was for the public weal thore should be some means of coming upon the populace instead of always upon the generous few. Cr Jones did not see how, in the state of the Council’s funds, they could give so much. He thought j£lo 10s was about all they could give. Not long ago they had voted a sum for the band rotunda on the jround that it was for the band. Cr Whinray denied the latter statement, saying that they voted the sum to a Coronation memorial, the form of which •vas afterwards decided. Cr Jones : You will find letters from the hands in the office suggesting the form. Cr Bright said the plain fact was that they had not the funds, and they should have the pluck to say so. He agreed with nil that had been Baid in support of the bands. People outside were contributing 1 berally, and the Council which, night f.fter night, had to refuse applications, • ..raid not afford to vote money for this j. oiiday. , ~ Cr Lysnar thought they should give something. The Mayor said the band was to go in soy case. In the state of the Council s funds he thought they could only givo AlO, which could be voted to him and then handed over to the band. He moved tc that effeot. Cr Mason sooonded tho amendment, thinking thoy could manage to spare £lO. The amendment was carried, there being sir. for it.

HEALTH OFFICER. Dr. DeLisle, district health officer, telegraphed from Tolago Bay that h 3 could meet the Sanitary Committee on Thursday or Friday, and would bo in Gisborne on Wednesday aftornoon. It was decided that the Committee should moet Dr. DeLislo at 9.30 a.m. on Thursday. A WATER SUPPLY SOURCE. Mr W. H. Cooper wrote as follows: I bee'to submit for your consideration certain proposals for a water supply for the Borough of Gisborne. I know of a natural flow of water coming direct from the c :rth and out of a rock, about four inches o a flow of what appears to be good, v I'.ii'esomo water, and at which locality A t link further flows could be obtained by b.iriug to supplement the present flow. The water is situated several miles nearer town than the proposed Waihirore source, end has a greater elevation above the town than Waihirere. I have watched this flow carefully all through this summer and could see no deviation in it showing that the supply does not come from the surface. This last rain has mado no impression upon it. As this question is of considerable importance to tho Borough, ; ,nd if tho source I have to suggest should be adopted, it will mako a considerable financial saving. I should make tho lol'owin'* offer to your Council, that, li tun source I desire to point out should, after being tested and examined by your Council be found to be a good, wholesome water in sufficient quantity to warrant the Borough ultimately adopting it as a source of water supply for the Borough of Gisborne, that'l should bo paid the sum of £IOOO as a Toward. And should it not be j ultimately adopted as a water supply I aspect no consideration.. Grs Harding and Bright said that a sample brought in by Mr Cooper was very „ o od water. Cr Harding said there was 1 no iron in it. Tho Mayor said that 1 Mr Cooper gave no information as to the : locality. . , . . . I cr Lysnar said it was a question of no no nav. If what Mr Cooper said CorrectVwas far better than Waihi- ' o • a shorter distance, with higher elevation. His own opinion was that they would not get a better source than the y Waimata,but if there was they should accept it. He moved that the offer be accepted, and a committee appointed to “crWbiSay e considered that if what Mr _ C " Laid be borne out, it would salvation of the town in the matter b !' th0 f O r sunplv If the offer was not C there was to be no pay, which accepted tb . Hq faad told Mt cooper f att tude was something of the toXt JUb« to kß? p tbU “ fw “ a ‘ lon

to himsolf upon such terms, but if no bottor offer could be obtained they should accept this. Ho would second tho motion Mr Cooper had told him that they could not find the source in a thousand years. Tho thing could be soon settled. Cr Bright agreed that it was a fair, square offer, and he could seo no objection to it. They paid tho -rain if they ultimately adopted it. If they could get a good supply for tho price it wouid be cheap. Tho Mayor said that tho matter was worth enquiring into. In reply to Cr Bright, Cr Harding said that Mr Cooper had told him thore was ample room for a dam. Cr Miller thought they should not agree on tho spur of the moment to give a thousand pounds if they adoptod tho sourco. They should consider the matter ° The l Mayor : If the facts are as Mr Coopor states it is worth .£IOOO. Cr Lysnar : A’20,000. Cr Bright thought thoy should stipulate that it was not a place previously investigated. . , Cr Miller said they might increase the reward offered, £3O. They should not commit the public to J6IOOO. Let this go to the public. There might bo many public spirited poople who would know of this place and give tho Council the mformation for nothing. Lot it go before the public for a fortnight. Cr Hepburn agreed with Cr Miller that they should not rush into the tiling. As . for the opponents of Waibirere they would agree to anything against Waihirero. Cr Harding said that Mr Coopor hau made an appointment with him to visit tho sito, but had not kept the appointment. He suggested that the letter be acknowledged, and that he bo informed that if he will tako tho Mayor and some other Councillors to tho sito they would , Cr Lysnar said that it would be unfair , to ask him to disclose it. Cr Whinray said they had had a reward | of £SO. i

Cr Jones : But not j£looo. Cr Miller said that when the letter went forth they would have every boy in the school after the reward. Cr Lysnar strongly commented on this statement, and said they should not cavil at an offer so as to lot the school children go round after it when tho information had been given to them in a honorable way. Cr Whinray: It’s mean. Cr Lysnar: We should deal with the matter in a businesslike way. Cr Miller: So we should.

Continuing, Cr Lysnar went on to argue in favor of pumping. Cr Miller had no grip of the water question. Cr Miller : I have a greater grip than any momber of tho Council. Cr Lysnar, continuing, said Cr Miller was quiio mistaken in saying Cr Whinray and ho would support any other Bchemo than Waihirere. Thoy had hero an honorable offor, and should accept it without delay. Cr Whinray said they had spent months in prospoeting for water, and thoy should not hesitate to accept those terms. Cr Miller rode to a point of explanation. What ho said about the school children was a joke. But they should not commit the public to a thousand pounds in this way. There must bo something behind this. Cr Whinray: There’s water behind it. The amendment to delay the matter for a fortnight was carried. For: Crs Miller, Mason, Hepburn, Jones, and the Mayor. Against: Crs Lysnar, Whinray, Bright, and Harding. Cr Lysnar: Have another sleep. overseer’s report.

Mr M. Morgan, Overseer, made the following report: —I have the honor to report to -your Council on the following works : Stone contract.—This contract is progressing slowly ; only about 674 cubic yards have been delivered since December 22nd, 1902, malting a total delivered to date of about 7471 yards. The work of the last fortnight has been somewhat divided. The very dry weather has caused the roads to cut up and require patching. Tho water channels required cleaning to prepare for the heavy rains, and the ovorgrowth giving the streets a dirty appearance have required attention. Tarring and kerbing footpaths have all been attended to-

TIIE TOWN CLOCK. The following letter was received from Mr Arthur E. Williams, Leamington On the 27th November I paid a second visit to Messrs Joyces’ works and found , the clock well advanced. Tho main portion of the clock, consisting of the gong and striking parts, was erected complete on the frame prior to being polished, and all tho other parts were approaching completion. Unless I am unavoidably prevented I hope to go ovor again one day next week to see the clock going. I have agreed to Mr Joyce’s suggestion to pack the frame part of the clock complete in one ease, all the rest—dials, dial work, hands, etc., being packed in a second case. Mr Joyce has not yet informed mo which steamer the clock will be sent by, but I expect it will be tho one leaving about Christmas time. Tho letter was received. WAGGON'S. Mr A. Brittain, Christchurch, wrote : “Yorkshire patent steam waggons—l have to-day received the following replies from my principals to your queries : Weight in working order of 6 ton waggon, about 6J tons ; width of tyres, hind wheels 12in, front whoels Oin ; width of tyros on 4 ton waggon, hind wheels din, front wheels 4in. We should advise you to have tho loose sides made at destination, as the cost of freight on these would bo nearly as much as tho cost of making.” Received, THIS NKW BOJLK.K. The following letter was received from Messrs Sliand, Mason, and Co., London, dated December sth, 1902 : 11 Referring to your esteemed order for new boiler, we now have the plcasuro to inform you that tho same has been shipped per s.s. Whakatane, for Wellington, and wo trust that the same will arrive safely and give every satisfaction. As instructed, wo have drawn on you as before through the Bank of Now Zealand, at 80 days’ sight, for £243 16s 10d, wo receiving from them £238 2s, as per invoice, their charges being £5 14s 10d.”—Received. TRAMWAYS. The Auckland Tramways Company wrote under date, Jan, 9th, 1903 Owing to the great pressure of work during the holiday season, I was so far unable to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 12th ultimo. By same post I am sending you a couple of photographs showing tho style of our horse tram ears, which are now for sale. We have also old rails for sale, but I would mention that the same are not tho so-called “ T ” rails, but rails which hayo to bo set in cast iron chairs. To give you in writing all tho information you would require to enable you to arrive at a definite decision in this matter is next to impossible, and I would therefore suggest that you should send a representative up to Auckland in order to thoroughly inspect what we have for sale, and wo could then discuss prices and conditions with him.

Cr Lysnar said that the material might come in well for tho Patutahi tramway. It would bo a good thing if souio Councillor wore going up. Tho Mayor said that money was tho main thing, that tho Council had no monoy to put tho material to uso. It was beforo tho time. Cr .Tones : Many things in your day, Mr Mayor, wore thought to be before their time. Cr Lysnar said they might ascertain the cost of rails, etc. Cr Whinray said they bad already had the prico of rails. He was told that the matorial was advertised to bo sold by public auction. HAND ROTUNDA. It was stated that the rotunda was being gone on with, but that a couplo of the pillars imported hadbeen broken. abattoirs. " Tho Chief Veterinarian, 'Wellington) wrote as follows : Dear Sir, —I have tho honor to acknowledge receipt of yours of the 7th inst., and am glad to hear that your Conncil are now taking active steps to forward the erection of tho abattoirs. The Treasurer wrote approving of the raisihg of a loan of £4OOO for abattoirs.

The Town Clerk said that all was conn plete but the gazetting.